Strand splicing device and method



Nov. 15, 1949 F R. KING 2,488,414

STRAND SFLICING DEVICE AND METHOD Filed Nov. 28, 1947 2' Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS:

NOV. 15, 1949 KlNG 2,488,414

STRAND SPLICING DEVICE AND METHOD Filed Nov. 28, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 15, 1949 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE 10 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an improved appliance for splicing the ends of strands of flexible material.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of a portable tool to facilitate the splicing of strands of material such as gut, nylon, yarn, thread, etc.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved portable appliance particularly well adapted for use by fishermen to facilitate the splicing of strands of line, gut or nylon, with a double coil snub type of knot.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved portable tool which is relatively compact and easily operated for the purpose of efficiently and quickly splicing the ends of strands of material such as gut or nylon, with a type of knot that will prevent accidental disconnection of the strands at the spliced connection.

The matter of splicing nylon or gut leaders in the field is one of the fly fishermans most diflicult problems. Usually such leaders oiier resistance to simple knots. It is therefore a purpose of this invention to provide a tool that will enable a fisherman to provide a splice knot of a double coil snub type which will prevent disconnection of the spliced strands.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a portable tool for splicing strands of material, having improved means to effect the splicing and the knotting of strands, and an improved knife arrangement to facilitate trimming.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts thruout the several views,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improved tool, showing the casing tube or body partly in cross section.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the improved tool or appliance.

Figure 3 is a side elevation showing the handle swung to one side with the knife of the tool extended at one end and a strand threading plunger or member extended at the opposite end.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the splice threading end of the tool.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view showing the manner in which an operator opens certain clamping members to permit the clamping of strands of flexible material upon the supporting body or member.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view showing a knife mounting means.

Figure '7 is another view of the knife mounting means.

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the details shown in Figure 6 with the knife mounting means in the position it will assume when the knife is extended for use, as in the position shown in Figure 3.

Figures 9, 10, 11 and 12 are views showing various steps in the manipulation of the tool and the strands of material to effect the splicing thereof.

Figure 13 is a perspective view of the upper end of the tool showing the splicing of the strands using a different method than that shown in Fi ures 9 to 12 inclusive.

Figure 14 is a perspective view of the upper end of the tool showing the method of using the same for the splicing of strands according to a method difiering from those shown in Figures 9 to 13 in clusive.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illus-' tration is shown only a preferred embodiment of the splicing tool, as used for varied types of knot splice formations, the letter A may generally designate the tool or appliance. It includes a supporting body, member or tube B having at one end a reciprocable strand threading member C associated with a strand clamping arrangement D. At the opposite end of the, supporting tube B is provided an improved collapsible knife arrangement E and a handle structure F.

The supporting tube, member or body B is of tubular material, preferably of uniform diameter throut and providing a passageway 20 therein. The material of the various parts of the tool may vary. Preferably, the same are constructed of brass, stainless steel or other plated metal, or even plastic.

The tubular supporting body, member or frame B at its splicing end has the passageway or socket 2!] open to permit the extension of the threading member or plunger C, as will be subsequently mentioned. At the front and back the tube is slotted, at 23, inwardly from the top end edge for a short distance along the tube, and at what is normally known as the front of the tool, shown in Figure l, the body B is further provided with a long slot 24 opening into the passageway 20 to accommodate the finger-engaging knob or button of the threading member C, as will be subsequently mentioned.

The strand member C is preferably of elongated cylindrical construction, as shown in Figure 3. It

is slidably mounted in the passageway 20 with a friction fit, or a friction spring 25 may be provided at the inner end of the threading member having a resiliently urged engagement against the inner wall of the tube B to offer some resistance to accidental movement of the threading plunger or member 0. The latter is provided with a finger engaging knob or tab 21, preferably detachable, which operates in the slot 24 to limit the extended and retracted position of the threading member-C with respect to the tube or casing B.

The threading member C is preferably provided with a pair of eyes or passagewaysfilland 31. for receiving splice yarns or threads. One end'of each is flared at 32, at opposite sides'of'thermember. That is, the lower passageway ,is. flared at the front of the tool andthe upper passageway is flared at the back or rear of the tool. .These flared ends may be otherwise distinctively marked.

.msuchias by coloring,.in ordenthat the individual will recognize the. .end of the passageway into .,which.the .thread or strand-should be inserted.

In the same plane within which the axes .of, the

. -passagewaysill and. 3i .lie, the threading member C. is notchedat 34 andc35, at its extreme end, as inedicatedin l igures land 3.

Referring-tothe clamping means for handling the strand ends, I provide a supporting strap :or

.. bandlllsecuredupon the tube -B below its-slottedend. ,Thisstrap dil'has alaterally extending pair .of ears {to-which a clamping arm il: is pivoted at 42 at one side of the tool body Brand-a secondpair of ears diametricallyopposed for pivsotally supportingzasecond clamping lever is upon .a pin 0r.,pl'-V0tf44. The clamping levers. 4| and 43 are in a plane at right. ang1es..or1 normal to ithe plane. in which.the.slots 23 lie, andat their ends they-are provided withsegmental-shaped .clampingshoesAB whichconform .to. and engage the opposite sides ofthe; tube B directly adjacent to the slots 23. Compressionsprings 4,1 are. interposed between ..-the. supporting tube .13... andrthe .ends. .of the: clamping .levers opposite lithe shoes .Qfiyconveniently. mounted upon studs .;.to .maintain,them.in place. the clamping shoes into snugplamping engage- ,ment withopposite sides of .the tube B. The

They. normally :urge

curvature-pf .theshoes is. the same, as that of ,thetube' B, so thatthestrands will beafforded a considerablelengith of clamping engagement.

The ,cIamping means D valso. includes small spring clamps 5B which maybe mounted upon the vpivotpinsAZ.ahdlid and extendalong thestrap 49 lfor, resilient clamping actionuupongsaid strap in ,theplane of..the slots 23 atthefront-and .back ,ofthe tool. .terminal. ends .of the strands for. .be subsequently described.

They .are adapted to engage the a. purpose to Referring to the handle and knifestructure associated withthe splicing .tool. A, a knife, blade .60 is secured .at .one. end upon a slid-ingplunger .6 I which operates snugly B in, the passageway tended. from the end .of the tube body opposite the splicingend, asshown inF-igure ,3. The

blade is locked either in its retracted.,.or.extended positions by, means of a .detent plunger in which i prin actuatedv at, FIJI. and seatsswben 4 in looking position, in enlargements 63 and 63 near the ends of the slot 63. The cross dimension of the detent plunger 78 is such that when depressed it will not extend into the slot 83, excent at the enlarged ends 63 and 53 The plunger has a reduced pin extension l5 which projects beyond the outer surface of the thumb stud or button 66, as shown in Figure 8, for the purpose of manually controlling the detent plunger.

Aniinproved gripping and safety type handle structure F is provided, consisting of a LJ-shaped .body 85} of band material, the bight end 8! of which maybe provided with a securing ring 82. The free ends of the body 86 are pivoted upon a pin What opposite sides of the supporting tube B. The. handle body $9 is of such length that it may be swung to substantially entirely cover the lower end of the tube B, as shown in Figure 2. This protects theknife against accidental extension and the possibility of injuryeto the user. The material of the handle body; 3!]. is of a springy nature and it provides an effective hand grip for operationof the tool. .As shown in'Figules 1 and 12, the handle may vbe lockedin proper position uponythe vtubelB .bymeansof a spring clamp 86 which intermediate i-ts.. ends is bowed .to receive the handle andof acurvature to gripthe oppositesides of the bodyaB. The clamping .member 90 givessome spring .ac- .tion so that a slight'effort. is. neededlto. remove the handle for.swinging,. andi:in .any eventethe handle body .bein geof a springy..nature,. can be flexed. laterally to effect .theidisconnection .of the clamping means from .the supportin tube 'Wh6l'1 so desired.

The improved .tool..or appliance scan be-..us ed forsplicing strands of (gut, nylon,'yarn orthread with aplurality of .difierentknots.

..The operation of theltoolis extremely simple. The first operation.isiindicated in sEigur'esfi sand '9. The splicin vendsfi-of the leadersior strands .arev overlapped a -.d-istan'ce Wof approximately 1%" at .opposite sidesofthetool;.one .,strand being. placed under ,eachof the v.clamps d I and. 43; the strandl ilfibing. secured beneath the shoe of clamp AI, and thefllstrand lEiLbein secured beneath the shoe of thesother clamp 1 13. .The strands I89 vand I 0! .are respectively provided with splicing ends tim and i F3 leasindicated in Figures.

In/the next step of the methodof forming .the 7 spice, the loose splicingend. Mid is wrapped a plurality of times, preferably three, .over the top of the main body of the strand or leadenlili, .in ,either direction as .desired, .,and.,.the terminal end then threaded thru.thepassagewaytd of ,the threading member. This is usuall accomplished as indicated by the operators hands in Figure 10. The loose end, after. threadingthru thepassagewayBil, is takenflbythe finger ofthe operator and snapped under the keeper spring vj!) at the ,rear of the tool. Preferably, .thefront eye, which is the eye or passagewaytfiflshould be threaded. ,first altho not..necessarily.,-,so. --The operation, is repeated. at the opposite side of the tool, that is, the splicing ,end Lim ris wound v around the body of the strand Add and then threaded thru theremainingeye or passageway 32 and the end snapped under the ,spring' ;keeper at thefront, as shown in Figure 10. ,lfsthe threading .is .reversely done (as'showninFigure 10). care will have to ,be taken-to-avoid-feedingthe second terminal end thru thezloopmade 'by the first.

With the windings of the splicing ends in the position shown in Figure 10, it is noted that the windings between them provide a loop which encircles the tube end. Of course a part of this loop is at each side of the tube adjacent to the winding.

In the next step of the method of forming the splice, it is merely necessary for the operator to place his thumb upon the button 2! and extensibly slide the threading member or plunger C beyond the tubular body B, as far as it will go. This action carries both terminal ends thru the loop and the action will probably slide the terminal ends out of the keeper springs 53, to the position shown in Figure 11. The terminal ends are now removed from their respective passageways or eyes of the threading plunger C and the plunger is retracted. The two terminal ends are taken between the thumb and finger of one hand of the operator and the clamping levers are unfastened from the strands and the terminal ends then clamped under the shoes of the clamping levers 4| and 43, as shown in Figure 12. The operator then takes the two strands his hands as shown in Figure 12, allowing the tool to hang from the terminal ends of the strands. By gravity, it acts as a counter-balance which will enable the operator to snub the windings tightly and draw them and the loop securely upon the terminal ends threaded previously thru the loop. The knot has thus been formed and all that is now necessary is to release the tool from the clamps di and 43, open the knife and clip the terminal ends free from the knot. This knot is known as a double coil snub knot.

In order to splice the strands by means of a barrel knot, the method of Figure 13 is used. It was noted in tying the double coil snub knot that both terminals are threaded thru the loop of the strands in the same direction. In the barrel type knot the strands are threaded thru the loop from opposite directions. To efiect a barrel knot splicing, wrap three full turns over the top of one of the strands and thread the end thru the front passageway as shown in Figure 13. Of course the end is snapped under the spring keeper to take up the slack. Next the plunger sliding rod is extended and the leader end here indicated at Figure 13 as lilii is removed from passageway 33 and allowed to stand as shown in Figure 13. The plunger is then moved about half way back to bring the rear eye or passageway 3i close to the loop which has been formed by the winding, as aforesaid. The other terminal end of the strands is then wrapped three full turns over the strand at the opposite side and threaded thru the rear passageway 31 or the other passageway, if desired. The plunger is then retracted entirely. This action will draw the terminal end thru the loop at the opposite side from that from which the terminal end llifl extends. In Figure 13 the last terminal end is indicated at i 81 and the terminal ends are held with the thumb and finger and the tool removed. The terminal ends are inserted one under each of the clamps ii and 43 and the splice knot is finished in the manner above indicated.

Another method of splicing is shown in Figure 14. In this instance the threading plunger is not used, but the terminal end, indicated at Hill 16 slipped along the slot 23 of the tube 33 and along the notch 34 or 35, as the case may be. The slack is drawn up tightly and the operation is then re peated from the opposite side. The snubbing of the windings may be effected, as above indicated.

During splicing of gut or nylon the strands should be thoroughly water soaked for best results. It is not necessary to have three full turns across the top in wrapping the ends. This is merely a suggestion since two turns or more than three up to seven or eight may be used.

Various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts and in the method of manipulating the strands and terminal ends thereof may be made, without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. The method of splicing strands of flexible material which consists in mechanically clamping the ends in oppositely extended overlapped spaced substantially parallel relation, winding one end of one strand about the body of the second strand spaced from the end of the second strand, attaching the said end of the first strand to a threading member, winding the end of the second strand about the body of the first strand to provide a loop between the first and second windings aforesaid, attaching the end of the second strand to said threading member, moving the threading member thru said loop to thread the ends of the strands therethru, removing the ends of the strands from the threading member, withdrawing said threading member from the loop, and tightening said windings in the direction of the loop to draw the loop into non-slipping clamped engagement upon the ends of the strands threaded therethru.

2. The method of splicing the ends of strands of flexible material which consists in mechanically clamping the strands of material in spaced relation upon a supporting member with the end portions of the strands in overlapping oppositely extended relation, winding the spliced end of one strand about the adjacent body of the other strand to provide a loop adjacent to the supporting member between said strands, winding the spliced end of the second strand about the adjacent body of the first strand at the opposite side of the supporting member to provide a loop adjacent to the supporting member, threading the said ends thru the adjacent loops, holding said ends, removing the strands from their clamped relation as aforesaid, and tightening the windings and loop therebetween in knot providing relation upon the ends of the strands threaded thru the loop.

3. The method of splicing the ends of strands of flexible material which consists in mechani-- cally clamping the strands of material in spaced relation upon a supporting member with the end portions of the strands in overlapping oppositely extended relation, winding the spliced end of one strand about the adjacent body of the other strand to provide a loop adjacent to the supporting member between said strands, winding the spliced end of the second strand about the adjacent body of the first strand at the opposite side of the supporting member and in the opposite direction from the direction of turn of the winding first mentioned to provide a loop adjacent to the supporting member, threading the said ends thru the adjacent loops, holding said ends, removing the strands from their clamped relation as aforesaid, and tightening the windings and loop therebetween in knot providing relation upon the ends of the strands threaded thru the loop.

4 The method of splicing the ends of strands of flexible material which consists in mechanically clamping the strands of material in spaced relation upon a supporting member with the end portions of the strands in overlapping opa threading -positely extendedrelation, windingthe splicede'nd of on'e strand 'aboutthe adjacent-body of the other strand to provide a-loop adjacent to the supporting member between-said strands, securing said end upon the supporting member and holding the said end against .accidentalremoval from the supporting gmem'ber,-=winding the spliced end of the second strand-aboutthe adjacent body of the first strand at the opposite side-of the supporting member toprovide a loopadjacent to the supporting member, securing the end last mentioned upon said supporting member and holding the said'lastzmentioned end against taccidental removal from the supporting ,member, :movin said supporting-.member thru'theaaforesaid looped arrangement "of said strands *and threading the ends upon-:thesupporting member thru the looped arrangement aforesaid, releasing the strands from the supporting member; 'clamp- -ing the terminal ends of'the strands upon-the supporting member, and tightening the windings and loop to clamp theends in the loop.

5. In a portable splicing toolxthe combination of a body member having an open 'ended socket, member sli'dably carried in said socket and having a transverse threading opening therethru, strand clampscarried by the body 'material such as gut, nylon, yarnand thread,

the combination of apsuppo'rting body having 'a' passageway therethru opening atan end,'said supporting body-at said end being longitudinally fslottediat front and back-a threading:plunger longitudinally slidable insaid passageway for retraction therein or extension therefrom having a transverse strand receiving eye therethru positioned, when the threading member is retracted in the passageway, directly'within the slots ofthe supporting body, and strand clamping means .carried at the sides of the supporting b V 'jacent to said slots.

7. In a splicing tool the combination of a supporting body having a passageway opening at an end thereof, said supporting body at the extreme end margin where said passageway opens being longitudinally slotted at the front-and back thereof, a threading member longitudinally'slidable in said body passageway having an 'end adapted to extend intothe passageway in=nor- -mally retracted relation, means to control the extension and retraction of the threading member with respect to said passageway, said threading member at the extensible end thereof having .a pair of relatively but closely spaced strand receiving threading eyes transversely therethru which lie within said slots when the threading member is retracted within said body and which be without said slots'when'the threading member extended from said passageway.

' 8.'In' a splicing .tool-ithe combination of 'a s'upporting body having'a passageway opening :at'an end thereof having a pair'of spaced strand receiving threading eyes retracted therethruwhi'c'h lie within said slots when the threading member is retracted within said body, strand clamping :spring urged members at -opposite sides of the supporting bodyin a plane normal to the plane in which saidslots lie, and terminal strand'end clamping keepers mounted upon saidsupporting body immediately beneath the slots.

9. In a tool for knot splicing the ends of strands 'of flexible line material the combinationof'n supporting'body having means thereon providing a transverse passageway therethru for; re-

ceiving the line material, and a pair of clamps carried by the frame supporting independent strand ends of the line material in such adjacent relation-to the transverse opening that the said ends of the line material secured by said clamps may be extended therethru from opposite sides of-the frame.

10. In a tool for knot splicing the'ends-of strands of flexible line material-the combination of a supporting body having means thereon ,providing a transverse passageway therethru -for receiving the ends of the line material therethrough, a pairofclamps carried by the frame for supporting independent strand 'ends of the line material in such adjacent relation to the transverse opening that the ends of the line material secured by saidclamps may be extended therethru from opposite sides of the frame, and a second pair of line material-clamps securely mounted at opposite sides of the frame adjacent to said transverse opening and relatively spaced from the first mentioned. clamps.

FORREST RAY- KING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inithe -r-file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,227,716 Wenzel May 29,1917 1,354,668 Lea Oct. 5, 1920 1,452,906 Butler et al. Aug. 24, 1923 1,481,754 Stalson 1 Jan. 22, 1924 1,514,010 Peck -1 Novq i, 1924 1,711,911 Strawser May 7, 1929 FQREIGN-PATENTS Number Country Date 658,735 Germany -i Man-24,1938 

